Airplane enclosure



NOV. 21, 1967 RUHLE 3,353,310

AIRPLANE ENCLOSURE Filed Oct. 23, 1965 ENTOR T RUHLE ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,353,310 AIRPLANE ENCLOSURE Emil T. Ruhle, 7050 S. 92nd St., Hales Corners, Wis. 53130 Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,001 6 Claims. (CI. 52-66) This invention pertains in general to airplane hangers and more particularly to a light weight, inexpensive airplane enclosure.

Every year there is an increasing number of privately owned, small airplanes. These airplanes are usually stored on privately owned or small town airfields where there is not sufi'icient hanger space to accommodate all the airplanes. Furthermore, what hanger space is available is usually quite expensive. Because of this the great majority of privately owned airplanes are parked outdoors where they are exposed to all the adverse weather conditions. Every year snow, sleet, hail and high winds cause considerable damage to these unprotected airplanes.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a light weight, inexpensive enclosure for airplanes.

An additional object of the invention is 'to provide a light weight, inexpensive enclosure for airplanes which requires only slightly more space than the airplane itself.

A further object of the subject invention is to provide an enclosure of the hereinbefore desecribed type which can be positioned about an airplane and removed therefrom by a single individual.

Another object of the subject invention is to provide an airplane enclosure of the hereinbefore described type which embraces the airplane in such a manner that the airplane aids in keeping the enclosure in place.

These and other objects of the subject invention will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in light of the attached drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation showing an airplane protected by the enclosure;

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevation of the enclosure in a retracted position;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevation of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevation taken along the lines 5-5 in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, numeral 6 refers generally to an airplane protected by the enclosure of the invention. The airplane shown herein, for purposes of il lustration, is a Single high wing plane having a tricycle landing gear. It should be understood that airplanes of different configurations could be utilized, requiring only a different configuration of the enclosure, however, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, since airplanes are substantially concentric about their longitudinal axis, the enclosure is likewise substantially concentric and for this reason only half portions of the enclosure have been shown in some of the views.

The airplane enclosure or covering is herein shown as comprising two half sections 7 and 8. These sections may be composed of any light Weight material which is preferably impervious to the elements and is of sufiicient strength to support its own weight under adverse weather conditions of wind, rain and snow when standing alone, but gains added strength as it embraces the airplane. As an example, a styrofoam material could be used as could fiberglass. Each enclosure half section has laterally dis posed wing covering portions 9 and 11. An airplane side covering portion 12 depends downward from the wing portions 9 and 11 and extends both forward to enclose the airplane engine section and rearward to cover the tail section as best shown in FIG. 1.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the left hand half section 7 has a tongue 13 on its innermost end extending the full "ice length of the section. The right hand half section 8 is provided with a complementary groove 14 for engagement with the tongue 13 to hold the two half sections in protecting locking engagement about the airplane.

Support structure is provided for holding the airplane enclosure in proper position relative to the airplane. As herein shown for purposes of illustration this supporting structure may be composed of common angle iron. It is intended that this supporting structure will be of sufficient weight to hold the airplane enclosure in place when the airplane is not embraced. However, the supporting structure may be of a light weight material, such as aluminum, if it is anchored to the ground.

The supporting structure includes a pair of closely spaced, longitudinally extending angles 16 and 17. The length of these longitudinal angles is equal to the length of the airplane and the space therebetween is substantially equal to the width of the nose or tail wheel. Rigidly connected to each longitudinal angle and extending laterally therefrom are a pair of side angles 18 and 19. These side angles are connected together at their remote ends by cross braces 21. A pair of wheel guides 22 and 23 are connected to the side angles 18 and 19. An adjustable stop 20 may be connected between the wheel guides 22 and 23 to insure that the airplane will be accurately aligned with the enclosure halves. This stop may be provided with a platform portion on which the airplane wheels rest. This arrangement permits the airplane weight to assist in holding the enclosure in place under adverse weather conditions.

The U-shaped slide hinge having a pair of arms 24 and 26 is connected to the cross brace 21. This connection may take any conventional form to permit pivotal movement of the hinge relative to the cross brace. As herein shown, the base of the U-shaped hinge is supported in lugs 27 and 28 rigidly connected to the cross brace 21 and having aligned bores therethrough.

Each enclosure half 7 and 8 has a pair of guides 29 and 31 formed therein to receive the hinge arms 24 and 26, respectively. The enclosure halves are permitted to slide laterally on the hinge arms. It should be noted, as best shown in FIG. 2, that the hinge arms slope downward from their outer ends toward the airplane. This is to accommodate the dihedral in the airplane wings. The tail section of each enclosure half is also provided with a guide 32. These guides align with braces 33 which are rigidly connected to the support structure and prevent twisting or breakage by wind and add support to the tail section when the enclosure is in an upright position. A T-bar support 42 is provided to hold the tail section of the enclosure in place. The base of the T-bar is pivotally attached to the longitudinal angle 16 so it can be swung out of the way to permit passage of the airplane.

When the airplane is removed from the enclosure the two enclosure halves are slid back on their respective hinge arms. Sufiicient movement is provided to insure clearance of the underslung portion of the wing covering portions 9 and 11 with the wing tips. When the enclosure halves have been moved the extent of their travel, the braces 33 engage the guides 32. Each enclosure half is then swung up and away from the airplane about the hinge braces 27 and 28 as shown in FIG. 3. The enclosure halves are held in place by card table type legs 41 attached to 24 and 18 and 26 and 19, respectively. In this position the airplane can be moved olf of the sup-porting structure.

The enclosure halves are maintained in the tilt back position while the airplane is removed and closed while in use. When it is desired to park the airplane it is taxied or pushed onto the supporting structure so the nose wheel is aligned with the guide angles 16 and 17 and the main wheels are aligned with the angles 22 and 23. The pilot then swings the T-bar up into position for engagement with slots 42 provided in the tail section of each enclosure half. The left enclosure half is then swung down and slid into position about the airplane. The right enclosure half is then swung down and pushed into position.

Means are also provided to assist in effecting the tongue 13 and groove 14 connection. A crank 34 is pivotally connected to the side angle 18. The crank arm 36 extends under the hinge arm 24. By pressing down on the crank the right enclosure half is raised up so the groove 14 passes over the tongue 13. This insures a solid protecting connection between the enclosure halves. Pins .44 and 45 are inserted through an opening in the side angles 18 and 19. These pins pass above the hinge arms 24 and 26 to .hold the arms in place.

From the above it can be seen that an inexpensive airplane enclosure has been provided. The enclosure is constructed so it does not require much more space than is necessary for the airplane itself. Furthermore, manipulation of the enclosure only requires a single person.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described, other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is intended that all modifications that come within a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims will be covered.

What is claimed is:

1..An enclosure for an airplane comprising: an airplanecoveringportion having an outer configuration substantially similar to the outer configuration of the airplane, said covering being made of a light weight material of sufficient stiffness to support its own weight, said covering-being composed of at least two sections releasably connected :to one another and including a portion embracing the underside of the airplane; first means connected to said-section to permit sliding movement thereof a-suflicient-distance to remove that portion of the sections from the underside of said airplane; and second means connected to said sections to permit pivotal movement :of said-sectionsout of enclosing relation with said airplane.

2. The-enclosure set .forth in claim 1 wherein each half section is provided with a'separate pivot .connection with the axis thereof substantially parallel to the longitudinal dimension of said enclosure, said pivot permitting each half section to be swung up and away from said airplane.

3. The enclosure set forth in claim 2 and further comprising a su porting structure providing an anchor for said pivot connection, said supporting structure including airplane wheel engaging means to assist in positioning the airplane relative to said enclosure.

4. The enclosure set forth in claim 3 wherein said pivot is a U-sha-ped bracket having the base thereof pivotally connected to said supporting structure and includes a pair of spaced arms, and further comprising a pair of guide means connected to each enclosure half section for sliding engagement with said spaced arms, said half sections being slidable on said arms away from said airplane to permit said half sections to be tilted back on said arms about said U-shaped pivot out of enclosing relation with said airplane.

5. The enclosure setforth in claim 4 and further comprising means for releasably connecting said half sections in enclosing relation about said airplane.

6. The enclosure set forth in claim 4 wherein a portion of each enclosure half section includes a portion thereof extending beneath the airplane wings so that the weight of the airplane assists in holding the enclosure half sections in place.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,969,074 1/1961 Willis -4 2,992,709 7/ 1961 McIntosh 5264 3,034,607 5/1962 Haines 5264 3,258,886 7/1966 Button 5264 3,270,755 9/1966 Horvath 13 5-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 833,552 3/1952 Germany.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ENCLOSURE FOR AN AIRPLANE COMPRISING: AN AIRPLANE COVERING PORTION HAVING AN OUTER CONFIGURATION SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE OUTER CONFIGURATION OF THE AIRPLANE, SAID COVERING BEING MADE OF A LIGHT WEIGHT MATERIAL OF SUFFICIENT STIFFNESS TO SUPPORT ITS OWN WEIGHT, SAID COVERING BEING COMPOSED OF AT LEAST TWO SECTIONS RELEASABLY CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER AND INCLUDING A PORTION EMBRACING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AIRPLANE; FIRST MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SECTION TO PERMIT SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREOF A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO REMOVE THAT PORTION OF THE SECTIONS FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID AIRPLANE; AND SECOND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SECTIONS TO PERMIT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SECTIONS OUT OF ENCLOSING RELATION WITH SAID AIRPLANE. 